Suncream causes awful rash on DD - what are the options??

[BrownPaperandString]

DD is 3 and it doesn't matter which suncream we use, she ends up with an absoltuely awful red rash.

Can anyone recommend any or suggest anything??

Can you just try keeping her in the shade and/or putting a white t shirt on her?

I can do that but it's her legs / exposed bits too. Dilemma!

Have you tried L'Oreal fine mist spray one? The only reason I ask is because DH has this problem with suncream and it is the only one that has never caused issues. I think because it is such a fine mist spray it doesn't block pores in the same way as rub on creams, and it is way better than the Ambre Solair spray one which seems simialr but causes DH the same problems as others. It's expensive, but usually on 2 for 1 somewhere, and we just buy it when we see it on offer like that.

the only one i have found so far that works on my dd is Green People - pricey and gloopy but doesn't cause a rash. others have all given her a rash and weepy eyes

I've had this problem with DD over the last few weeks - it's cost me a fortune in suncream! We seem to be ok with the Nivea Baby forumla, keeping fingers crossed. I did see our minor illness nurse who said that she could also look into prescribing a sensitive skin sunscreen if need be. Might be worth asking at your surgery perhaps?

What factor are you using? We were on holiday in Florida a couple of weeks ago and DTD1 developed a really nasty rash. We took her to a pharmacist, and he said that the chemicals in the Factor 50 I'd be putting on her may have been causing and/or exacerbating it. He suggested using Factor 30 as that wouldn't have the same level of chemicals in. I did. The rash did clear up after we used some hydrocortisone on it, and didn't return once we used Factor 30 rather than 50. She didn't burn. I was very concerned as we all have fair skin and I burn very easily.

If you can get a referal to dermotology then they will be able to get you something that doesn't cause bother (but I know that's a hassle) I tested some products with a friend of mine for our local hospital dept a few years ago and the best thing we found was Pro-Derm, which is a moose, but gives excellent coverage, with no bumps or rashes, sadly I've not found it on the shelves at all this year anywhere?(sainsburys had it last year)but it may be available on perscription? You have my sympathies as although I'm not suffering at the moment, my dd2 is, Nivea is the only one working on her at the moment, hth's.

Piz Buin is the only cream I am not allergic to...could try any of the natural suncreams from health shops....the only way though is to avoid the sun altogether

maryz - they changed the formula in P20 last year and it now has UVA and UVB, also on their site, it says it is ideal for children. It's fab stuff, I will be giving it a go this year on my children to stop the rash. It's because suncreams are waterproof, so it stops the skin breathing, so i think if you didn't want to use something like P20, you would have to use a sunscreen that wasn't waterproof, but then you would have the hassle of reapplying every 5 mins....

its a difficult one, My oldest used to be the same when he was younger, but luckily he doesn't get the rashes any more, my youngest however, is covered in a rash from the past few days..... I will be popping out to get some P20 this week and trying that instead.

DD1 is like this, turns out she is allergic to chemical filters.

Try a 100% mineral one - Avene, Uriage etc. DD is ok with these.

Ultrasun is very good too, they do a P20 alike 1 application daily sport formula that they say is ideal for kids too which blocks UVA and UVB, but the kids high factor formula is also good (chemical free) and DS has had no rash or skin problems at all with it.

I had to reply to this as I am some kind of expert on this unfortunately. I have a severe allergy to suncream, found out one ruined holiday .

I can use Simple suncream as it is the only one without chemical sunscreens and these chemical sunscreens are what cause my allergy. Perhaps your DD is the same.

There are two types of sunscreen, chemical and physical. Chemical sunscreen actually temporarily alters the surface of your skin. Physical sunscreen just sits on the surface of the skin and reflects back the rays. Most sunscreens have the chemical elements in them - even those marked as 'sensitive' (learned this on another ruined holiday). The chemical sunscreen is most likely the cause of allergies unless it is simply prickly heat or an allergy to creams in general.

If simple change their formula this year I am screwed. I think E45 might be chemical screen free but I'm afraid to try another. HTH

My son (2.5) has eczema and I am allergic to a lot of perfumes etc. but he?s been just fine with Simple Baby Sun Sensitive Protecting Suncare Cream (SPF 50). It rubs in really easily too. See www.simple.co.uk/sun_cream.aspx

We?ve also both been OK with Nutrogena Age Shield SPF 45, which is also perfume free and hypoallergenic.

Good luck!

I am really interested in this thread. Every year when we go on holiday my DD gets terrible skin. I used to think it was eczema so used to cover her in aqueous cream at the end of the day. She has olive skin and does not burn but by the end of our holiday her skin is like a crocodiles skin, really rough and hard with sore cracks on it. I think it is a combination of prickly heat and also blocked pores from suncream so this year I need to find a suncream that does not block pores? The other thing that I found helped was Magicool spray for prickly heat, it seemed to help calm things down. Anyone else with a recommendation on suncream?

My Ds has the same problem he is now 11. He uses Green People and that seems to be o.k.

Thank you so much for all your replies and for those of you who have personal experience. I am going to try the simple one to start with - have ordered it on-line so it will hopeully be here before the weather changes again.

I have since been talking to my friend whose dermatologist isn't very keen on suncream and feels they may actually be more carcinogenic than being sensible in the sun. Did that make any sense